Hi guys,

I have 200 miles on my new MCS and am following the break in procedure. Yesterday while accelerating on to the highway I heard a nasty sounding screech/squeal noise when I hit 70MPH coming from somewhere up front. It almost sounded like something rubbing agaist soething else. It freaked me out so I slowed back under 70 and it stopped. Then I sped back up and was going 70 to 80 mph and it did not happen again for like 10 minutes when all of a sudden it started again. Again I slowed under 70 and it stopped. It happened a couple of more times in the hour or so I was driving but I could not figure out anything that would consistently cause it, other than that it did not happen under 70MPH, but also it did not happen every time I hit 70MPH.

I guess I need to take it to the dealer, but I am worried that I will not be able to describe it well enough and they will not be able to replicate it as there are no highway near the dealership that where they can get it up that speed. Anybody have any ideas on what it could be and do you think I will hurt anything if I keep driving it until I can bring it in to the dealer?

Thanks.

 

I wonder if this is the old issue that occurs when the A/C auto-recirculate is enabled.

Let me know.

I don't get that noise much, mine usually occurs when I got 100mph

 

I did a bunch of searches for squeek and squeal and I read about the AC recirculate issue, but I don't think it is that. It sounded like that was pretty consistent at certain speeds and this just seems to be making the noise occasionally. My wife said she thought it sounded like the noise the vacuum cleaner makes when it sucks up a plastic bag or something, but it did not really sound like that to me and I checked under the bonnet and did not see anything strange.

I am thinking about bringing a little digital tape recorder with me on the highway so I can tape the noise and play it for them at the dealership.

 

I think it might be the wiper blades "whistleing" try turning them on when it does that see if it changes... I have the same issue.

~R

 

I get the same noise at 100mph, but I think it is just me.

 

Both of you should try to replicate the noise in reverse.

OK seriously, let me try to actually help: Does it matter how fast you are going, or what your rpms are? Speed dependent, and I wonder if you are looking at the wiper issue or other wind noise. Rpm driven, and I'd start wondering about belts and pulleys.

Given the vacuum analogy, did you pop open the airbox and check for obstructions?

 

For me it's speed based at about 80 + it happens and when I hit wind gusts it changes or can appear at 80 - if there is wind.. and it's intermitent then

 

Thanks for the help. It happened in both 5th and 6th gear right at about 70MPH so I don't think it is RPM driven. It also did not seem to change with the RPM's, it was either on or off. I like the belt/pulley idea because it sounded to me like something rubbing or maybe a bearing? It is just weird that it would not do it every time I hit 70MPH.

It was not a whistling sound (air) and it was definitely a most unpleasant noise (that could be influenced by the fact that is was happening in my brand new car that I have waited months to get and only has 200 miles on). It was almost bad enough to make me turn around even after it quit. If it did not quit, I probably would have pulled over.

I looked under the hood, but did not check inside the airbox, but I will tonight.

 

I wonder if there is a bit of a leak in your air intake. This would lead to a sound caused by the throttle body. The noise would occur when at speed you make a minor speed correction (like with the cruise control). Does that sound like it? That would be a very high pitched noise. If this is the case its not harming anything. A CAI would give you 100% more of this haha

 

I have it too, although I didn't notice it until 2 days ago when it started raining. It was doing it again last night, but both times when it rained. I *did* have the windshield wipers on in both instances. It seems to sound like it's coming from the front right side of the car (I thought it was the tire). And just like other reports here, i hear it mostly when I hit 70-80 on the freeway. My Mini is a little less than a month old.

 

I just noticed this the other day for the first time on my car (~6 mos old) at a speed of around 80+ mph (I don't normally go that fast but I was passing someone & got a little happy with the throttle). It was a weird squalking sort of sound that was definately speed & not rpm dependant. I think it was a bit gusty that day so maybe that's it, although to me it almost sounded like it was coming from the upper back part of the car (I was wondering if it was my shorty antenna or something).

 

I get it now and then also, from about 80mph+

With my wife in the car, we located the howl as coming from the top-front of the windshield. Up past the map lights. Guessing that somehow air is causing a vibration up there somehow. Can't find any cracks or gaps in the windshield weatherstipping.

 

search winsheilds

 

I really did not believe it could be the windshield because it was so loud and sounded like a bearing or something rubbing up under the hood. However, this weekend on a long road trip it was doing it a bunch so I had time to experiment and sure enough, when I pushed on the windshield behind the rear view mirror both the volume and the tone of the sound changed. By pushing on the windshield intermittently I could actually play a tune. When I got home I checked around the edges of the windshield and it appears that the the rubber weather stripping that runs underneath the body panel (pillar?) that goes from the roof down to the body aloing the passenger side of the windshield is pulled slightly away from the windshield for the top 6 inches or so and the pillar piece will move a little if you push on it as compared to the one on the drivers side which is firmly in place. I am pretty sure this is what is causing the problem and I have made an appointment to have my car serviced. I don't know if they will have to remove the windshield or can just replace the weather stripping and the pillar, but I am happy that it is probably just this air leak and not a problem with something mechanical.

 

Mine does it around those speeds & venting the sunroof slightly cures my problem. Got a sunroof? I suspect my sunroof seal is the culprit.

 

No sunroof here.

 

Well I got my car back from the dealer and they replaced the stripping behind the pillar and tightened down the pillar. The service manager said he did not know why it was so loose and that maybe my car was put together on a Friday afternoon. He of course immediately smiled and said just kidding.

Anyway, yesterday I took the car on a semi-long road trip and for the first hour was happily cruising along at 70 to 80 in complete silence. Then all of a sudden it started doing it intermittently again, however, at a much lower volume and for a much shorter duration. I am sure it is the windshield as when I would push hard against the glass from the inside it would stop. I figured the pillar came loose again, but when I stopped and checked it did not appear to be loose at all. I drove for about 6 hours at highway speeds and it only did it a couple of times for maybe 4 or 5 seconds each time, but I guess it will be going back in to the shop to see if they can figure out where it is coming from.

On the positive side I passed the 1,200 mile mark on my trip and I finally got to hear that supercharger whine! It really adds a whole new level of fun to the car.

 

passing 1200 is quite a joy. soon you'll meet Mr. Rev Limiter. I have a love / hate relationship with that guy...

 

I have the same issue @ 70 mph like clockwork...

 

Hmmm, my car has been making an odd whistle/squeal since Nov, but it seems I'm the only who can hear it. Although mine seems to happen at any speed, not just @ 70+. But, it never happens when I am sitting still.

After reading the posts in here, I am going to go check out the top to my airbox and see if it's loose.

Thanks to all who posted in here.

 

I've been reading all the whistling and noise posts for a while. I think some of us have different problems. My whistle definitely starts at 70 and stays there on up. Coasting in neutral does not effect the noise until I coast down below 70. My noise really sounds like it is coming from the rear hatch. I know that at speed, the vacuum that is produced on the outside is trying to pull the hatch open, so I figured I had a little air going past the weather seal.

I did an old technique just today of taking a strip of paper, about as stiff as a new dollar bill and trapped it between the hatch and the weather seal. Open/close, pull out and feel the resistance, over and over in different places. I kept doing this about every four to five inches all the way around.

I found that my seal at the bottom from the center, near the latch all the way over to the lower right rear corner was so loose that there was no resistance to pulling the paper out, hummmm?

Now it is time to go further. I also noticed that the outside lower part of the hatch, when closed, was not even with the rear part of the fender, about 2mm off. I used a the edge of a credit card to see the alignment. I also found the air exit vents. They are on the inside of the boot just under the latch ledge.

I adjusted the latch forward (size 30 torx) until the outside sheet metal was perfectly flush. I redid the paper thing... now the seal is tight.

I have not taken it out on a confirmatory drive yet, but I will and post the results.

If this does not fix my whistle, my next test will be to actually temporilary tape up the hatch seams on the outside. On a third test, I'm going to tape over the vents under the latch.

YD is on a mission now and will not be defeated. Humiliated maybe, but not defeated, hehe.

I'm YD and I approve this message.

 

Took a spin today, problem not solved. Now for the next experiment, tapeing up the rear vents in the boot. Stay tuned. Guess I'll also get to learn how to get that plastic panel off where the vents are sooner or later... I need to know what is underneath.

YD

 

don't feel bad . i get a slight breeze when i turn a hars right .lol . love these pos' .